On September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DoS) announced that effective immediately, applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas, including F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 visas, "should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence".
If you are from a country where the U.S. is not currently conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations, you must apply at a designated alternate location, unless you reside elsewhere. A full list of designated locations is available on the U.S. Department of State website.
Important Notes
- Residence Requirement: You must be able to demonstrate that you reside in the country where you are applying, if applying based on residency.
- Existing Appointments: If you already have a scheduled visa appointment, DoS has stated that it should (generally) not be cancelled
A reminder for current students/scholars: Because the F-1/J-1 visa does not determine your eligibility to remain in the U.S., once you have arrived in the U.S., it is not a problem if your F/J visa expires. As such, OGS does not recommend that you travel for the sole purpose of renewing your F-1/J-1 visa as delays could impact academic progress if you are unable to return to campus to resume on-ground, full-time enrollment.
If you must depart the U.S. and require a new (not "renewal") visa to re-enter, please anticipate potentially lengthy visa appointment delays and increased scrutiny on social media content.
Students and Scholars with questions should contact OGS directly.